This site contains images of epizoic protozoans from the coast of California. A researcher
from the Marine Biology Laboratory of San Diego asks for help in specifying these species. If you can help, please
write me. To see large images, click on
thumbnails.

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found on and remarks

I have seen this on two different species of Polychaeta. The ones pictured here were attached to the branchiae of
Ophelia pulchella (Opheliidae: Polychaeta) (Station: I3(2), 2JAN02, 92 ft.). They were also attached to the exterior
lateral body wall of the same specimen. A very similar looking animal (not pictured here) was found attached to the
branchiae and dorsal cirri of Mooreonuphis segmentispadix (B13(1), 1/9/02 375 ft.). In both cases the "ciliates"
occurred in the hundreds.

These animals were found attached to the palae (the thick brassy anterior setae that are directed forward) of
Amphicteis scaphopbranchiata (Ampharetidae: Polychaeta) (B10(1), 9JAN02, 381 ft.).

This one was to attached to the antennae of Mooreonuphis nebulosa (Onuphidae: Polychaeta) (2733(2), 17JUL01, 383 ft.).